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Patience is a virtue…
Although there are other tricks to try, this is really the only one you need—leave the shaker sit at room temperature until the frost on the outside melts. A little time and melted ice might be all you need.
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Tap it out (2-tin shaker, only).
Place the shaker on a flat surface. Hold the bottom tin and firmly tap the edge of the top tin with the heel of your hand. This breaks the vacuum seal.
Note: Do not try this method with a glass shaker!
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Heat / cool combo.
Wrap a hot, damp towel around the bottom tine for a few seconds. The heat expands the metal, loosening the seal. Still stuck? Alternate this with placing the shaker in the freezer for a (hopefully) supercharged result.
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Try the rubber band hack.
Wrap a thick rubber band around the edge of the top tin for extra grip. Combine this with a confident twist, and voilà!
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Invert and shake.
If the drink inside has frozen the seal shut, flip the shaker upside down (the small tin should now be on the bottom) and shake. The ice can help break things loose.
Note: try this option over the sink in case liquid leaks out of the small tin when it opens.
What Not to do When Your Drink Shaker is Stuck
Few things dampen your cocktail enthusiasm faster than a Boston shaker refusing to cooperate. But please, resist the temptation to grab tools—especially knives—to pry the shaker open. You risk injury or damaging your barware. And unless you’re in a cartoon, no mallets, please!
Do not use any open flames, like stove burners, to try to expand the metal tin. The pressure you risk building inside could literally explode the tin, causing a hospital visit in your near future. Stick to the hot towel method mentioned, above.
Why Do Boston Shakers Get Stuck?
The main culprit is temperature. Ice-cold cocktails can cause the metal to contract, creating a tight seal between the tin and the glass. Other factors? Overzealous force when sealing the shaker or vacuum pressure from a vigorous shake session. It’s not you; it’s science.
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Be gentile.
Don’t over-force the seal—just a snug fit will do.
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Dry before shaking.
Use a towel to dry the edges of both tins before sealing to avoid liquid freezing between them.
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Invest in a quality shaker.
They are made of stronger materials that will resist temperature shock and fit together like a glove.
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With these tips, you can shake, sip, and savor without the drama.
What does adding salt to a cocktail do?
Adding a tiny bit of salt or a few drops of 20/80 saline solution to a cocktail will mute bitterness and bring out subtile flavor notes—mainly sweet & sour flavors. Essentially, we want to be using salt in cocktails for the same reasons we use it in cooking.
Learn how to use salt in cocktails.What is a Boston shaker?
A Boston shaker is a two-piece cocktail shaker that creates its own create a vacuum-tight seal once closed, reducing the likelihood of leakage while shaking. Boston shakers have one larger tin, usually 28-oz capacity, and a smaller glass or metal tin with a 16–18 oz capacity. They tend to be the preferred style of shaker for professional bartenders, and we like Boston-style shakers because of their large internal capacity, helping to efficiently mix, chill, and aerate your cocktails.
Why use fresh fruit syrup for cocktails?
Using a homemade, fresh fruit syrup for your cocktails allows you full control over flavor and sweetness; you can adjust the intensity level by using different amounts of sugar:water:berries. It also gives you a better berry flavor intensity by using the sweetness of the berries in place of some of the sugar but still yielding the same sweetness level.
Learn how to make fresh fruit syrup.What is macerating?
Macerating is the act of soaking fruit in sugar—instead of adding water—in order to draw out its natural juices and enhance the flavor of your syrup, jam, or jelly.
What is the difference between whiskey and bourbon?
Whiskey is a broad category of distilled spirits made from fermented grain mash, while bourbon is a specific type of whiskey that must be made in the U.S. with at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. Bourbon tends to be sweeter and richer due to the corn content, making it ideal for cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan.
Whiskey vs. Scotch: what’s the difference?
Whiskey refers to a broad category of grain-based spirits, while Scotch whisky (no “e”) is specifically made in Scotland using malted barley and aged for at least three years in oak casks. Scotch often has a strong smoky & peaty flavor, while American whiskeys like bourbon and rye have sweeter or spicier profiles.
What’s the Best Whiskey Cocktail?
The best whiskey cocktail depends on your preference, but classics like the Manhattan and Whiskey Sour are among the most popular.
For a smooth, refreshing option, try a Whiskey Highball, and those who enjoy bold flavors may prefer a Boulevardier or a Penicillin cocktail with honey and ginger.
What’s the Best Whiskey for an Old Fashioned?
A high-quality bourbon or rye whiskey works best in this drink. An Old Fashioned is designed to highlight a whiskey’s natural flavors by adding only a few drops of bitters and a touch of sugar, so look for locally distilled options which will usually deliver more smooth, crisp, unique, and complex flavors over some more mass-produced options.
However, some easier-to-find bourbons like Elijah Craig, Old Forester, or Woodford Reserve will also work; they’ll add smooth caramel and vanilla notes, while rye whiskey like Rittenhouse Rye or WhistlePig gives a spicier kick.
What cocktails can you make with bourbon?
Ultimately, this depends on your preference, but Bourbon’s rich, sweet notes make it perfect for cocktails like the Mint Julep, the Kentucky Mule, the Old Fashioned, and the Bourbon Smash. A Bourbon Sour offers a tangy balance of citrus, sweetness, and creaminess (due to the addition of egg whites).
For a unique twist, try a Paper Plane, which combines bourbon with Aperol and Amaro for a complex, bittersweet flavor.
What is gin made from?
Gin is essentially flavored vodka; it’s made from a neutral grain spirit infused with botanicals—primarily juniper berries. Other botanicals like coriander, citrus peels, and cardamom give different gin styles unique flavors.
What cocktails can you make with gin?
Classic gin cocktails include the Gin and Tonic, Negroni, Tom Collins, Dry Martini, Cosmo, and the French 75. Each cocktail highlights different aspects of gin’s botanical flavors.
Mix up a classic Raspberry Cosmo and thank us later.What is fat-washing in cocktails?
Fat-washing is infusing spirits with fats that compliment the cocktail’s overall flavor—such as bacon grease, olive oil, butter, etc. A spirit is mixed with a melted fat, then set aside at room temperature to allow the fat to infuse into the spirit. After a few hours, it’s then chilled in the fridge until the fat solidifies at the top of the spirit, then the at is skimmed off, leaving the fat-infused spirit.
Try this method with bourbon & bacon fat in an old fashioned and thank us later.
